i > —s 
This will spare me much grief. Never will I turn away from 
the supplications of misfortune. But in the present instance, 
you can do infinitely more than I, whereupon you will, on 
this account, excuse my importunity; you may rely on my 
gratitude and esteem.” ; 
She always manifested much more solicitude in reference 
to the accommodation of her attendants than for her own com- 
fort, because she would visit their apartments and issue per- 
sonal directions to promote their convenience; hence, one 
night, just as she was about to retire to rest, she observed 
that her waiting-woman had but a single mattress, spread upon 
the floor, for her repose. Here she immediately, and with her 
own hands, took from the bed, destined for herself, another 
mattress, and supplied the deficiency so that her waiting- 
woman may sleep more comfortably. Moreover, whenever 
any of her household were sick, Josephine promptly visited 
their bedside, and with her own hands, ministered to their 
wants; she would remember them at her own table, and from 
the luxurious viands spread before her, she would select 
delicacies which might excite a failing appetite. Thus, it 
often happened, in these sudden and hasty journeys, that, from 
want of accommodation, some of the party were compelled to 
remain in the carriages while Napoleon and Josephine dined. 
In such cases they were never forgotten; this was not policy 
and artifice on the part of Josephine, but the instinctive dic- 
tates of a heart overflowing with benevolence. 
Josephine had very little religious knowledge, for she re- 
arded Christianity as a sentiment rather than a principle. 
She felt the poetic beauty of its revelations and ordinances, 
knew how holy its charities were, how pure its precepts, how 
ennobling its influences, even when encumbered with the gross- 
est superstitions. Contrariwise, she had dreadfully seen an 
felt what France was without religion, while marriages had 
become a mockery, conscience a phantom, and death pro- 
claimed to all an eternal sleep. She therefore most warmly 
seconded her husband in all endeavors to restore again to 
desolated France the religion of Jesus Christ. 3 
Josephine cherished emotions of the deepest gratitude toward 
ali those who had proved friendly to her in the days of her 
adversity. Napoleon, with his strong prejudices, often took 
a dislike to those whom she loved; hence, Madame Tallien, the 
companion of Josephine in her captivity, and her benefactor 
after her release, was, for some unknown reason, peculiarly 
obnoxious to Napoleon. She was extremely beautiful and am- 
bitious, while her exclusion from the splendors. of the new 
court, now daily becoming more brilliant, mortified her ex- 
ceedingly. Here Josephine was greatly troubled, whereupon 
she could not disregard the will of her husband, which caused 
ip 
